Money

Identify the main costs and sketch out a simple budget.

Establish some kind of a ballpark figure for the total cost of your trip: transportation + lodging + meals + tips + rental car + gasoline + souvenirs + shows + shopping + snacks + activities +...?? Knowing how much you can spend makes on-site decisions much easier. And helps you manage the excitement of being in Vegas.

Consider the miscellaneous costs.

Vegas excels at satisfying your every wish right here. Right now. But it costs money. Expect to discover all sorts of great things that make you say: "Hey, it's vacation. I figured...let's do it." The let's-do-it's can add up really fast.

Explore alternatives to relax a tight budget.

All major resorts feature Promotions, just about all the time. Check the travel sites for savings on room+air Packages. And there's a ton of websites pointing to coupons and freebies.

Reduce the temptation to overspend.

Prepay all major reservations (air and hotel). Bring some petty cash (for tips, snacks), and travelers checks for meals and legimate expenses. Bring only one clean credit card for emergency use. Leave the check book at home.

Temporarily increase the spending limit on your credit card.

Make an advance payment to your credit card company, so you have a positive balance (a credit). When you start charging, you're spending down the positive balance rather than increasing the amount you owe.

Bring an envelope for receipts.

A standard #10 business envelope or a bit larger works great. Put all receipts in the receipt envelope. If you must review your expenses at some point, everything is all together in one place.

Separate your checks and credit card from your petty cash.

For minor expenses, keep a small amount of petty cash in a place that's easy to reach. Keep checks and credit cards stored away in pockets or pouches that discourage pickpockets.

Count your change.

And double check your credit card receipts, room receipts, etc. Mistakes happen. Catch them right away.